Highlight major milestones that are to be achieved by the Kyoto Treaty and Montreal Protocol. As of today, what should have been accomplished, and by whom?
The main objective that led to the formation of the Kyoto Treaty and Montreal Protocol stems from the fact that in recent years, there has been a drastic change in the climatic conditions courtesy of rampant industrial growth. This is believed to have caused the degradation of the O-zone layer thereby exposing the Earth to adverse weather conditions. Scientists, the World over through the United Nation have mobilized nations to be signatories of these treaties to curb the depletion of the Ozone layer.
To-date, with regards to both treaties, a total of 191 countries have signed and ratified the same. Surprisingly, of the signatories of the Kyoto Protocol, it is only the United States which has not ratified the same.
To accomplish its mission, these treaties have specific objectives that are yet to be achieved. The most notable of them all that was passed by Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) was the “registration of the 2000th project activity and the first inclusion of component project activities (CPAs) to registered programs of activities (PoAs)” (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 6). This is yet to be realized since; Conference of Parties 5 (CMP 5) was only able to streamline the procedures. Another objective that is yet to be achieved is to appreciably enhance efficiency as well as transparency of the processes of CDM.
Once this is achieved, a significant reduction of greenhouse emissions would be achieved. Furthermore, CMP is devoted to ensuring that Certificate of Emission Reductions (CERs) as spelled out under CDM meets Stakeholders’ prospects for environmental integrity. Under the Kyoto Protocol, Annex 1 countries devoted themselves to limit greenhouse gasses (methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, and carbon dioxide) together with hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons.
They agreed to curtail their emissions by 5.2% from their 1990 concentration levels by the year 2012. This was to be achieved courtesy of flexible mechanisms that include: emissions trading, CDM, and joint implementations and as such, non-Annex 1 country would help their Annex 1 counterparts meet their target limits. The specific reduction targets as per different nations include: “7% for the US, 6% for Japan, 0% for Russia and 8% for joint European Union” ( United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 10). On the contrary, the treaty allows for increased emission targets of 8% and 10% for Australia and Iceland respectively to meet the 1990 benchmark.
What are the responsibilities of the United States in meeting these requirements? Have they been met? If not, why?
The responsibility of the United States concerning the Kyoto Protocol is to reduce its emissions by 7% from its 1990 concentration levels by the year 2012. However, the US, which is a signatory of the Montreal Protocol, has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol citing economic suicide.
The United States is accusing the Kyoto Protocol as biased since developing countries e.g. China and India are not covered. Moreover, with regards to the year 1990 baseline, Russia, which is an industrialized country, faces no restriction at all. Concerning Russia, the US is claiming that they would have used another baseline to determine its reduction rate. On considering these claims the US sees sabotage of its economy by this treaty (United Nations Environment Programme 4).
How do you rate the overall success of these treaties? Have they achieved their general goals? What were the shortcomings?
Generally, the success of these treaties is bound to fail since the US which is a major emitter of greenhouse gases on the planet has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol. With the status quo, these treaties will make an insignificant effect on meeting its objective of restoring the O-zone layer. Moreover, the use of a rigid baseline is a major setback towards meeting its objective (Liverman 280).
Works Cited
Liverman, Diana. “Conventions of climate change: constructions of danger and the dispossession of the atmosphere”. Journal of Historical Geography. 35. 2 (2008): 279–296. Print.
United Nations Environment Programme. “Industrialized countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2%”. 1997: 3-4. Print.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. “Status of Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol”. 2011: 5-10. Print.